The Best Places To Snorkel & Scuba Dive in French Polynesia

The South Pacific Ocean offers some of the best snorkeling and scuba diving in the world. Clear, warm waters with a vast amount of coral and marine life make this the ideal place to don your mask and fins and explore the world under the sea. Norwegian Cruise Line can take you there.

With so many islands in the area, a cruise to the South Pacific will allow you to snorkel and scuba dive in many different locations. Some of the best places to snorkel on your cruise include tropical island chains such as Fiji, French Polynesia, and Vanuatu.

Tivua Island, Fiji

Tivua Island is a small island off the west coast of Fiji that is renowned for its snorkeling. The small island is ringed by a delightful sandy beach and over 500 acres of coral reefs teeming with marine life. You'll only find two small traditional Fijian huts here. No one lives on the island, it's primarily a day trip excursion for travelers. While it may take only 10 to 15 minutes to walk around Tivua Island, you can easily spend hours in the water exploring the sea life you can encounter.

Your snorkel excursion leaves from your Lautoka, Fiji, port of call. It takes about one hour to sail to Tivua Island.

Bora Bora, French Polynesia

Bora Bora is the ultimate destination for cruise visitors to French Polynesia, with its stunning volcanic landscape, idyllic lagoon, and sand-fringed motus. The protection by a coral reef makes Bora Bora one of the best locations in the world for snorkeling and scuba diving. There is abundant aquatic marine life in Bora Bora's lagoon, including non-aggressive blacktip reef sharks and stingrays. Another option is to book a sailing adventure through Bora Bora's gorgeous reef-ringed lagoon. Stop in the clear water where you can do some snorkeling in Coral Gardens.

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Raiatea, French Polynesia

Raiatea is the second largest of French Polynesia's Society Islands, and together with its sister island of Taha'a, you'll find more wonderful spots for snorkeling and scuba diving in the South Pacific. Raiatea and Taha'a are home to numerous vanilla plantations and pearl farms, with turquoise lagoons and reefs full of tropical sea life to explore on and under the water.

The coral reef gardens off the coast of Taha'a are perfect for drift snorkeling with a large variety of tropical fish and coral. Drift snorkeling is where you start in one location and let the current carry you along on your way back to the boat. You don't really stop on a drift snorkel, but your guides may take you two or three times depending on time.

Visit a pearl farm and then snorkel one of Raiatea's most beautiful reefs with colorful coral formations, underwater fauna, and a myriad of tropical fish.

Moorea, French Polynesia

Moorea is another popular cruise ship destination in French Polynesia. It is known for its jagged mountains, jungle landscapes, and sandy beaches. Moorea's Cook's and Opunohu bays on the north of the island are ideal both for snorkeling as well as sightseeing the majestic landscape of the island. There are abundant lagoons and sandy inlets around the bays that allow for safe and scenic snorkeling with plenty of variety of marine life to experience.

As you travel en route to your snorkel stop, your guide will explain everything about Moorea, including flora, fauna, and geography. When you jump in the water, enjoy the rare opportunity to interact with the waiting stingrays. The water is extremely clear and shallow here, around 6-10 feet deep.

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